Best Pork Chops

Juicy tender pork chop smothered with onions.

Pork Chops are a simple dish, but a few tricks can make the difference between a dry pasty puck of flavorless meat and a juicy flavorful pork chop that's loaded with flavor. Here are my secrets for making the best pork chops ever, along with an easy honey mustard glaze to serve them with.

Course Entree

Cuisine American, Best

Level Beginner

Main Ingredient Pork

Diet Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 4 15

Servings servings

Calories 362kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

4 pork rib chops (1 inch thick)
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons salt
4 cups water
1 large clove garlic (smashed)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion (sliced thinly)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

Instructions

In a gallon size sealable freezer bag, add the 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 large clove garlic and 4 cups water. Seal the bag and swish it around to dissolve the sugar and salt. Add the 4 pork rib chops, press out as much air as you can, then seal the bag. Let this sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
4 pork rib chops, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, 4 cups water, 1 large clove garlic
Remove the pork chops from the brine and use paper towels to remove as much moisture from the surface of the pork chops as you can. If there's water on the surface of the pork chops, they will not brown.
Add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the pan and heat over medium high heat. Place the pork chops in the pan while the pan is still cold. Because the pork chops are brined with sugar, they'll burn before they cook through if you put them into a hot pan.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Fry the pork chops undisturbed until they are golden brown on one side and have gone from pink to beige about halfway up the sides.
Flip the pork chops over and fry the second side until well browned and an instant read thermometer reads 141 degrees F (60.5 C). Transfer them to a plate and let them rest.
Drain the excess oil out of the pan, and then add the 1 large onion and 2 cloves garlic. Sauté until the onions are soft.
1 large onion, 2 cloves garlic
Add the 1 cup dry white wine, 2 tablespoons honey and 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard and then turn up the heat to boil off the alcohol and thicken the glaze.
1 cup dry white wine, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
When the glaze is nice and thick, add the pork chops back to the pan and flip them over repeatedly to coat them with the glaze. Once there is no liquid left in the pan, the pork chops are done. Top with the caramelized onions and and serve with mashed potatoes.

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